Meet Harnaam Kaur, the Bearded Woman Who Used to Be Bullied Shows the World What Real Beauty Looks Like

Every once in a while, some courageous individuals come forward with jaw-dropping stories and leave us speechless. They dare to break down stigmas about different things in viral videos or photos and post them on social media. And this is the case with Harnaam Kaur, someone who struggled with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) from a young age. She made us rethink the description of the “perfect” appearance that many of us may have obsessed over at times.

Get to know Harnaam Kaur.

Harnaam Kaur, who’s from Britain, is different than your typical influencer. She became the first woman with a beard to walk at London Fashion Week in 2016, and she also opened the show at Royal Fashion Day in the UK. She’s been modeling in magazines ever since. Having worked as a teaching assistant in a school, Kaur is currently a postpartum and life coach, motivational speaker, model, and activist.

Also, at 24 years and 282 days old, she was awarded a Guinness World Record title for being the world’s youngest female with a full beard.

How it all started

Kaur’s life dramatically changed at age 11 when she saw a beard appear on her face, spreading rapidly to her chest and arms. At the young age of 12, she was diagnosed with a hormonal disease called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and, therefore, developed hirsutism due to excessive androgens (male hormones). She had to deal with continuous facial and body hair at that young age.

Her life wasn’t easy, as she had to endure rough tides due to constant bullying at school. During her early teens, she was embarrassed by her beard and attempted to remove it by shaving, waxing, and bleaching. Her efforts made it even worse — the hair returned thicker more spread out. There were times that she even received death threats through the internet from people she didn’t even know.

She was called ’’beardo, she-man, and she-male’’ at school. She couldn’t take it anymore.

Kaur regained her self-confidence and decided to embrace her looks, not shave, and not please society. At only 16, she took the giant leap and decided to wear her beard. Upon making that decision, her life changed positively, which she’s now proud to share with the world. She loves her body unconditionally, continues to wear skirts, ignores people’s sarcasm, and defies those who judge her for her appearance.

She became an advocate for the body positivity movement, raising awareness of body shaming and cyberbullying. She stands by the phrase, ’’My body, my rules.’’ She’s appeared in multiple magazines and newspapers, taken the stage at a TEDx talk, in the House of Parliament, and more.

Today, this extraordinary woman feels more feminine in the outfits she picks, with her nails done, and in the dresses, skirts, and jewelry she wears. She thinks being called ’’The Bearded Lady’’ isn’t an insult anymore. It’s her true wish to encourage other women with her story and help them gain self-confidence too. She believes that one day she will meet someone who will accept her no matter what.

What polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal and gynecological condition that shows itself with high levels of male hormones (androgen), irregular menstrual cycles, and many (poly) cysts on the ovaries. It affects about 4%-20% of women between the ages of 15-44 and 5%-10% in the US, totaling nearly 116 million women worldwide. Although the cause of PCOS isn’t yet known, some factors may play a role, including genetics, obesity, and high levels of insulin.

If untreated, it may progress and lead to other secondary health issues, such as hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

What the symptoms are

Besides high androgen levels and infertility associated with irregular periods or no period, women with PCOS also experience symptoms like excessive hair growth (hirsutism), thinning hair or hair loss from the head, weight gain, acne, fatigue, and more. Although there’s no way to prevent PCOS, it’s possible to reduce the risk of developing it.

One way to do this is to adopt a healthy lifestyle and maintain good body weight. Another method is eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, exercising, and taking medications recommended by your chosen professional.

Do you know someone who has influenced you with their inspiring story? Please share it with us below!

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